Starring:

Shreyas Talpade as Mahadev

Amrita Rao as Kamala Bhabhi

Divya Dutta 

Ravi Kishan

Yashpal Sharma

Ila Arun 

Rajeshwari Sachdev 

Director: Shyam Benegal

Music: Shantanu Moitra

Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire, Ashok Mishra

Shyam Benegal’s latest flick ‘Welcome To Sajjanpur’ brings us to the village life. The plot of the film resolves around two characters- Mahadev and Kamala. The protagonist of the story is Mahadev, an aspiring novelist of the village, who earns his living by writing letters for the poor illiterate villagers. Another central character of the film is Kamala Bhabhi, who awaits her husband who has been in Mumbai in search of his living for the part four years. Mahadev and Kamala are childhood friends and Mahadev has a soft corner for Kamala since childhood. Mahadev helps the illiterate villagers by writing letters. Kamala comes to him to write a letter to her husband. Here the director shows a manipulative aspect of the character of Mahadev, who somehow manages to convince Kamala about her husband’s indifference regarding her. Just when their friendship is going to meet a lifelong bond, a letter from her husband arrives, which sets the climax of the story. Realizing his deeds to be wrong, Mahadev comes to Mumbai in search for Kalama’s husband, Bansi.

 There are some other subplots of the story, which show different shades of village characters. The set of characters range from a typical village mother, played by Illa Arun, worried about her manglik daughter’s marriage, played by Divya Dutta, who in turn wants to study further; to the compounder, portrayed by Ravi Kishen, in love with a widow, played by Rajeshwari Sachdev; to a village goon, played by Yashpal Sharma, who represents the village politics in India. The contact of each character with Mahadev is depicted with great sensitivity.

 

The portrayal of Mahadev by Shreyas Talpade is rightly achieved. Amrita Rio overshadows her glamorous image in this film to depict the role of a village woman, and appears so real through her body language, gesture, and innocence. Other characters come alive by the magical touch of Benegal. In a word, ‘Welcome to Sajjanpur’ is a film of human emotions, virtue, and vice; thus worth watching.

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